A gaffe too far? Trump campaign suffers blowback

August 11, 2015 6:59 am

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The trash-talking billionaire has upended the Republican campaign, refusing to apologize for suggesting that a popular Fox News debate moderator asked him tough questions because she was menstruating/AFP

By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, WASHINGTON, Aug 11 – Donald Trump, the defiant, mercurial reality TV host leading the Republican presidential nomination race, is facing a backlash over his crude comments and fears he could mount an independent White House bid.

The trash-talking billionaire has upended the Republican campaign, refusing to apologize for suggesting that a popular Fox News debate moderator asked him tough questions because she was menstruating.

“She should be apologizing to me,” Trump told MSNBC early Monday, after appearing on several Sunday talk shows to defend his suggestion that Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever” as she questioned him during last week’s Republican debate.

Trump has shot to the top of the Republican field, invoking a rebellious, improvisational tone embraced by supporters, and striking fear into a party establishment keen to see a serious, viable candidate emerge to battle likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. READ: Trump refuses to apologize for ‘blood’ remark.

“I think the guy went way overboard – offensive, outrageous. Pick your adjective,” Clinton told reporters on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.

But “what the rest of the Republicans saying about women is also outrageous,” she went on, seizing the opportunity to attack other Republicans, whom she has accused of waging a war on women.

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE Agence France-Presse is a global news agency delivering fast, in-depth coverage of the events shaping our world from wars and conflicts to politics, sports, entertainment and the latest breakthroughs in health, science and technology.